Candlewick tufting machine



Sept; 3, 1940- I w. MONTGOMERY 2,213,589

CANDLEWI CK TUFTING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 24, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 g [4 0 //77d/7 Mariya/r7647 Sept. 3, 1940. w. MONTGOMERY 2,213,589

CANDLEWICK TUFTING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 24, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Way/m Mmf M/e/j Sept. 3, 1940. w. MONTGOMERY 2,213,589

CANDLEWICK TUFTING MACHINE Original Filed Feb 24, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 p 3, 1940- w. MONTGOMERY CANDLEWICK TUFTING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 24, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 awe/whom Way/77M Mmf mW/y p 3, 1940- w. MONTGOMERY 2,213,589

CANDLEWICK TUFTING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 24, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 3. 1 w. MONTGOMERY CANDLEWICK 'IUFTING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 24, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 awe/Moo drill/li Patented Sept. 3, 1940 warren STATES PATENT orrics CANDLEWICK TUFTING MACHINE s Wayman Montgomery, Sugar Valley, Ga., assignor of one-half to J. M. Muse Application February 24, 1937, Serial No. 127,442 Renewed February 1, 1940 1 Claim.

This invention relates to sewing machines and particularly to apparatus for and method of producing tufted articles such as candlewick bedspreads and the like, wherein a plain or woven fabric is decorated by tufts along predetermined lines in the form of design on the fabric.

In the making of candlewick spreads, the decorative tuftings are made by inserting the yarn or the like with a needle and cutting the yarn comprising the stitches on one side of the spread to form ends which when unraveled form the tufts. The design of the spread is defined by rows of such tufts which may be formed of single stitches spaced apart or from groups of stitches spaced apart or variations thereof.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a sewing apparatus or means for and the method of making candlewick bedspreads or the like of the character mentioned above, which go sewing apparatus constitutes a sewing machine designed solely to first provide a single loop stitch through a folded portion of the fabric which is formed and actuated by a novel form of feeding mechanism and thereafter by a cutting mecha- 25 nism to sever the loop as well as to clip the yarn to form a single tuft, this operation being repeated by the sewing machine at a uniform speed to provide a line or row of spaced tufts.

The method embodied in the foregoing object is to accomplished by simultaneously feeding the fabric across the sewing machine and forming a vertical fold therein, causing the needle with the yarn threaded therethrough to horizontally pierce the fold of the fabric and to withdraw to "1;; form a loop on one side of the fold, severing the loop on said one side of the fold, and clipping the yarn attached to the needle on the other side of the fold, and unfolding the fold and feeding the fabric forwardly to repeat the same series of operations on the next stitch; the folding of the fabric providing the spaces between the stitches or tufts.

The mechanism embodying the invention to perform the above method consists of a feeding and folding mechanism, a sewing or stitching mechanism and a stitch cutting mechanism, and it is accordingly another object of this invention to provide for synchronous movements of the foregoing means so that the feeding, stitching 50 and cutting operations andfeeding of the fabric across the machine is continuous.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention and the preferred mechanism for accomplishing the same will be better 55 understood and will be pointed out in detail during the course of the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the sewing machine. Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the head of the machine taken on line 2-2, Figure l,

in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the head and a portion-of the framework of the machine taken on line 33, Figure 2, in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view through the neck of the framework of the machine taken on line 4-4, Fig. 1, showing the operating cam on the main shaft for controlling the loop severing part of the cutting mechanism.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View taken online 5- 5, Figure 2, in the direction of the arrows showing in front elevation the p-resser foot and a portion of the cutting mechanism. I

Figure '6 is a detail view of the cam operating mechanism taken on line 66, Figure 3, in the direction of the arrows.

' Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the base and pedestal of the machine showing the operating lever mechanism.

Figures 8 and 8a are respectively detail .sectional views taken on lines 88, and Ba-Ba, of Figure 7.

Figure 9 shows in plan the feed mechanism and operating levers therefor, taken on line 99, Figure '7, in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the portion of the feed mechanism projecting above the bed of the machine, taken on line Ill-l0, Figure'Z.

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional view through the pedestal of the machine taken on line i |I l Figure '7.

Figures 12, 13 and 14 show various steps in the forming andcutting of the stitch to form the tuft.

Figure 15 shows apair of tufts as formed by the machine.

Referring to the drawings, the entire machine is shown in front elevation in Figure 1, and comprises a bed or base l0, an upright pedestal H at one end thereof provided with an overhanging cantilever extension or neck l2 to the free end of :5 which is connected the sewing'machinehead l3. The bed [0, pedestal II and neck IZaremadeof any suitable metal and are cast hollow as one integral body or in separate parts to be joined together, in the manner well known. Preferably both the pedestal H and the neck [2 are arranged in the longitudinal vertical center plane of the bed H).

Arranged axially within the neck i2 is a drive shaft it supported at its rear end within the anti-friction bearings i5 and it at the rear of the neck l2 and located one on each side of the pedestal H, see Figure 7; and at its forward end within the anti-friction bearing l1 positioned at the forward end of the neck, see Figure 3. The rear end of the drive shaft l4 extends outwardly of the bearing i6 and carries a pulley l8 which is to be connected to a source of power by a belt drive (not shownk It is to be'understood that the drive shaft It may be operated by an electric motor suitably arranged on the machine and constituting a part thereof in the manner well known. The method or means-employed for operating the drive shaft M forms no part of this invention.

To produce the contemplated form-of tuft there is embodied within the machine three distinct mechanisms, namely the feeding mechanism, the stitching mechanism and the stitchcutting mechanism each of which functions in a predetermined sequence for forming each tuft, the operations of the various mechanisms having synchronous movements so that the stitching, stitch-cutting and feeding of the cloth across the machine bed is continuous.

Feeding mechanism Adjacent the end of the bed Hi opposite the pedestal ii is arranged a U-shaped feed element 29 comprising upright gripping arms 2| and a base 22. The feed element 26 is slidably supported within a suitable channel shaped bracket 23 attached in a desired manner to the underside of the bed ill, see Figure '7. Each gripping arm 2! projects through'a slot 24 in the bed It], for a distance substantially equal to the depth of the serrations 2i.- iormed on the ends of said gripping arms. The slots 26 are of a greater length than the length of the gripping arms 2|, and viewing Figure 10 extend forwardlyof the gripping arms to accommodate the movement of the feed element 20.

The base 22 of the gripping element 20 is slotted for substantially the entire extent thereofto define an opening 26 for a purpose to be hereinafter described, and is formed with oppositely directed extensions 21 and 2B, the extension 28 terminating in a downwardly directed car 29. A similar ear 38 is formed on the extension 2'! at its inner end. Bridging the ears 29 and 39 is a rod 3!, that is disposed, see Figure 2, beneath the bottom of the bracket 23.

. Operating within the opening 26 of the base 22 is a vertical feed-gauge 34, slotted as at 35 at its upper end portion to accommodate the rod 3|; said upper end portion projecting through a longitudinal slot 36 in the bed l0, centrally between the transverse slots 24, as clearly shown in Figure 10. The lower end of the feed-gauge 34 is pivotally attached as at 317 to one end of a rock lever 38. The upper edges of the slotted end of the feed-gauge 3 5 are beveled as at 39 to define an inverted V for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The main rock lever 38 is fulcrumed at at 40 to a bracket 4! attached to the underside of the bed iii, and at its other end'is provided with a pivotal pin and slot connection 42 to a vertically reciprocating push rod d5. Arranged forwardly of the bracket ii and to one sidethereof is a similar bracket 45 to which is fulcrumed as at 4T horizontal reciprocatory an auxiliary rock lever 48, one end of which is pivotally connected as at 49 to the main rock lever 38 rearwardly of its fulcrum ill. The other end of the auxiliary rock lever 58 terminates in a slotted eye 59 for connection with the rod 3|.

The push rod 45 is positioned within the pedestal ii and is guided in its movements by a guide bracket 52 attached to the wall of the pedestal ii, the upper end ofthe push rod 45 havin riding engagement with a cam 53, mounted on the drive shaft M, rotation of which imparts a downward movement to the push rod. Adjacent the cam 53 on the drive shaft M- is another cam 5% that coacts with a follower arm 55 rigidly connected to the upper end portion of the push rod 5. The cam 54 rides on the underside of the follower arm 55 to raise the push-rod 45 from its lowermost position. The cams 53 and 54, and follower arm 55 are so designed as to move the push rod 355 downwardly and upwardly in proper sequence. Thus, downward movement of the push rod 45 will move the main rock lever 38 about its fulcrum id to raise the feed-gauge 34. it the same time, the auxiliary rock lever 48, will be moved about its fulcrum GT in view of its connection =35! to the main rock lever, to elevate the feed element 26.

To move the feed element 253 horizontally there is provided a horizontally oscillating feed lever 52", fulcrumed intermediate its ends to a pivot 5t fixed to the underside of the bed Ill. The forward end of the oscillating feed lever 51 is bifurcated as at 59 for engagement with a depending pin =39, connected to the free end of the feed element extension 21. The other end of the feed lever 5? is provided with a slotted eye 6| having engagement with the lower end 01' a push lever 52 mounted for vertical oscillating movement on the shaft EBcarried by the supports 64 within the pedestal l i. The upper end of the push lever ii: terminates in a fiat abutment 65 for riding engagement with a cam 66, rotation of which actuates the push lever 62 to move the feed lever Ell about its fulcrum 58 to move the feed element 26 forwardly. To maintain the abutment 85 in contact with thecam 88 and to return the parts, i. e., the feed element 23 and its control levers to normal position, there is provided a spring 68 connected at one end to a suitable point in the wall of the pedestal H and at its other end tov the push lever 62, see Figure 8a.

Stitching mechanism Suspended from the free end of the neck I2 is the head It which comprises a box-like housing, rectangular in section and open at its top and bottom. The head It comprises a front wall 70, a rear wall H and side walls 12 and 13, and is attached by its side wall 73 to the flange 74 of the neck 12, in any desired manner as by screws (not shown). Formed in the side wall 13 is an opening l5 through which the drive shaft. [4 extends, and which is supported by the anti-friction hearing ll mounted on said side wall 13.

Arranged on the end of the drive shaft I4 is a crank disc i8 carrying a crank pin or cam follower l'9 which'projects into the cam groove 80 of the cam member St. The cam member 8| is provided on its outer face with a horizontal boss 82 having an axial boss therein for the reception of rod 83' inserted therethrough. A set screw 84 securely locks the cam member 8| inadjusted position on the: rod 83. The cam groove 80 formed on the inside face of the cam member 8| is of such curvature as to provide a reciprocatory movement to the rod 83 only during a predetermined part of the rotation of the crank disc I8. Therod 83 ismounted for reciprocating movement on the bearings and 81 carried respectively by the front and rear walls I0 and. II, the ends of said rod extending outwardly of said walls. The end o1 the arm projecting outwardly of the wall I0 is pivotally connected as at to theupper end of a lever arm 9I which is pivotally supported at its fulcrum 92 byithe bracket 93. At the lower end of the lever arm 9 I there is swivelly provided a needle carrying block 94 into which is fitted the end of the needle inthe manner well known. the bolt member 51% from the wall 10 is a guide bracket 07 for the free end portion of the needle 95, the eye 98 thereof being always positioned rearwardly of the bracket 9?. The height of the needle 95 above the bed I-0.of. the machineis such that when the feed-gauge 34- is in its raisedposition the. needle 95 will freely pass through the slot 35 therein, as will be hereinafter described. The yarn is threaded through the eye 98: of the needlefiii and is provided ona spool (not shown) conveniently mounted onxav suitable part of the frame of the machine. I

From the above it will be seen that rotation of the cam follower I9 will, viewing Figure 2,.for a part of its revolution in the cam groove 80 of the cam members! impart thereto areciprocating movement of the rod 83, which movement cause a like reciprocation to the needle 95 through the action of the lever arm 9|. This movement obviously is synchronized with the movement of the feed element 20 and feed gauge 34 so that when the latter is. in its raised position the needle 95 will move through the same as will be hereinafter described for the placing of a stitch in the fabric.

Arranged within the head. I3 of the machine between the walls I2 and I3 thereof is a vertical partition 00 that is secured in place by the screws IEli, said partition being located at the lower half of said' head as most clearly shown in. Figure 3.. On one side of the partition I00 formed vertically therein is a recessed groove I02 which is adapted to slidably receive the flat shank- I03 of the presser foot m4 which is slotted at its lower end. Depending from the bottom edge of the partition I00 is an extension I05 provided with a lateral boss I06 which receives a set screw i=0! for locking the shank I03 of the presser foot I04 in adjusted position. The presser foot. when in its locked adjusted position acts as an abutment and guide for the fabric when moved bythe feed element, and also serves as a guide and abutment for the fold f of the fabric, see Fig. 12, the shank I03 of the presser foot holding the same for penetration by the needle 95.

On-the other side of thepartitio-n there is provided a similar recessed guide groove 09 in which is slidably' positioned a feed gauge stop H0, the bottom edge of which is formed with a V-shaped groove HI running lengthwise of said edge for co -action with the inverted V-shaped edge of the feed gauge -34, as most clearly shown in-Figure 2.

The upper edge of the gauge stop IIO terminatesa distance below the end of the guide groove I09.

and between the same is provided a spring element H2. Beneath the upper edge of the gauge stop is a vertical slot H3 through which the bolt member 96 extends for supporting engagement with the partition I00. The spring element H2 acts to cushion upward movement of the Suspended by means of i gauge stop H0 when acted upon by the feed gauge 34, as will be hereinafter described.

Stitch-cutting mechanism The stitchformed in the fabric in the manner to behereinafter described is cut by two scissor like members H5 and H6 arranged. one on each side of the partition I00.

The scissor H5 is disposed on the presser foot side of the partition I00 andis mounted on the lower end of a vertically reciprocal scissor carrier rod I20 which slidably engages the face of the partition I00 and is guided in its movements rocker arm I25, the-other end of said rocker arm.

being pivotally supported as at I26 on a bracket I21 mounted on the neck l2 of the machine.

Between the ends of the rocker arm- 025 there: is pivotally suspendedas at I30 a spoke I 3i in which is adjustably fitted one end of a. Vertical pus-h stern I32, the other end thereof carrying a cam follower I33. The push stem projects through an opening I35 formed inv the neck I2 which at this point is formed with a' circum-- ierential enlargement I3-- to accommodate a suitably designed cam I3 1 mounted on the drive shaft I '4 all as clearly shown in Figures 3 and i. 'Ihus, rotation of the cam I3! will'irnpart through. the push stem I32 a rocking movement to the rocker arm. 4Z5 whereby to vertically reciprocate the scissor carrier rod. 20 to bring the scissor H5 carried thereby into and out of operating position.

The scissor H5 comprises a fixed blade H5111 attached by the screws I49 to the. lower end of the scissor carrier rod I20, and a movable blade H51) pivotally attached at its upper end as at. ml; to the upper end of the fixed blade. A tension. coil. spring I43 is attached at one end to the lower end of the movable blade H51) and at its other end to a suitable point on the wall 'II ofv the head I3 whereby to maintain the scissor blades in open relation.

To operate the scissor H5 there is provided a lever I45 fulcrumed on a longitudinal horizontal rod I46 supported at its ends on the opposed walls I2 and. I3 of the head IS. The lower end of the lever M5 is attached in any desired manner to the lower end of the movable blade M51), as for example by slotting the end of the lever I45 to fit over the movable blade I I51), or by a conventional form of pin and slot connection, and at itsxupper end the lever M5 is so formed as to have ridi'ng engagement with a suitable cam. I47 mounted on the drive shaft I4 rearwardly of the crank disc I8. Thus, rotation of the cam I I'I will rock the lever I45 about its fulcrum I46 to operate the movable blade of the scissor II5, this movement being so co-related to the reciprocating movement of the scissor I I5 as to take place only when the scissor H5 is in its lowermost position.

The other scissor H6 located on the opposite side of the partition I00 comprises a fixed blade 6a and a movable blade II 612, both of which are suspended on the bolt member 96 and retained in cooperating relation by the nut I50.

The fixed blade 6a. is secured to the partition wall by the screws I5I. The movable blade M65 is provided with an extension I52, which is pivotally connected as at I53 to the lower end of a link member I54. At its upperend, the link I54 is pivotally connected as at I55 to the free end of an arm I56, pivotally mounted for swinging movement at its other end on the fixed pivot I51, the intermediate portion of said arm having riding engagement with a cam I58 mounted on. the drive shaft I4 rearwai'dly and adjacent the cam I41. A tension spring I50, see Fig. 2, is connected at one end to the link I54 and at its other end to a suitable point on the wall l5, and serves the two-fold purpose of holding the scissor I I5 open and at the same time maintaining the arm I 55 in bearing engagement with the cam i553. The position of the scissor II 6 is fixed, both blades thereof when open allowing the needle 95 to pass therebetween. The link I54 is so formed, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6 as to be resilient and flexible in planes at right angles to each other, the lower half being flexible so as to accommodate the arc of movement of the arm I55, see Fig. 6, and the upper half being flexible to accomimodate the arc of movement of the movable blade extension I52.

Operation The operation of the machine is shown in the various steps shown in Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15. The fabric F is placed across the bed II! of the machine and With the machine in operation a portion of the fabric F will be gripped by the gripping arms 2| of the feed element 25 moving the fabric F underneath the presser foot I04. At the same time the feed gauge 34 will along With the feed element 20 be elevated, the feed gauge 34 being first elevated to provide a fold F in the fabric, the fold being clamped between the feed gauge 34 and feed gauge stop H9 as clearly shown in Figure 12 which as hereinabove described has a yielding upward movement to prevent tearing of the fabric F; and thereafter the feed element 20 is raised to clamp the fabric against the p-resser foot I94. At this point the needle 95 threaded with the yarn Y is moved forwardly to penetrate the fabric at the fold F, the needle passing through the slots: both in the presser foot and in the feed gauge. When the needle 95 on its return stroke has completely left the fold F, the stitch formed thereby in the fold F forms a loop L on the presser foot side of the fold. The scissor H5 is thenlowered, the fixed blade II5a thereof entering the loop L and the scissor is operated to cut the loop. At the same time the scissor I I 5 is operated to sever the yarn adjacent the eye of the needle, thus completing the stitch forming and cutting operation. In order to insure the forming of a complete loop with each reciprocatory'movement of the needle inand out of the fold 7', the needle must be such as to have an eye construction in which the yarn is easily movable. Also the character of the yarn employed must be such as to have sufficient body so that upon penetration of the needle for a predetermined distance through the fold and. its return out of the fold there will be formed in each instance a horizontal loop L, as shown in Fig. l3.- The yarn Y is retained in the loop by friction, and inasmuch as the fold f does not movement of the needle as controlled by the' operation of the stitch mechanism which is corelated with the scissor elements as to be cut thereby, in, the manner as above indicated, as

shown in Fig. 14.

The feed mechanism at this time operates on its return whereby the fold F is unfolded to pass under the presser foot, the whole above recited operation being again performed to form another stitch which when completed viewing Figure 15, will be spaced from the first stitch'by a predetermined amount.

It will be observed that both ends of each stitch are on the same side of the fabric and due to the nature of the yarn employed will unravel to form a tuft.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of .limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claim. 7

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of my invention what is claimed is:

In a tufting machine comprising a bed, a vertical pedestal, a horizontal neck carried by the upper end of said pedestal and parallel to said bed, a head carried by the free end of said neck and in superposed relation to' said bed, and a presser-foot carried by said head; a feed element horizontally movable on said bed beneath said presser foot for moving a fabric thereunder, Vertical movable means forming a part of said feed element for forming a vertical fold in said fabric, a gauge stop carried by said head arranged in the path of movement of said movable means and coacting with said movable means for clamping said fold in position so as to be penetrated by a horizontally reciprocating needle, said horizontally reciprocating needle carrying the thread or yarn and operating at a predetermined interval to pierce said fold whereby to form a loop on one side thereof, a vertically movable scissor element arranged on-one side of said presser foot adapted for entry into said loop for severing the same and a stationary scissor element including a fixed 

